Crafts

Halloween Party Ideas

October 29, 2012 by Morgan Leave a Comment

There are times that life gets the best of you. Times that feel as if a sledgehammer has been taken to your knees and it is all you can do to regain your composure and continue on. That sledgehammer feeling has been a reality over here and it has taken me time and lots of prayer to get back into the grove. We are not completely through our hump so please forgive me over the next few weeks if I am not up to my posting norm…On that note….ONWARDS:

Halloween Party Ideas:

I have entitled this post as Halloween Party Ideas however please note that we do not participate in the evil/creepy/spooky aspect of Halloween. We keep our fall celebrations focused on kid and family friendly activities. Our recent Pumpkin Party is an example of such a par-ty and I have made a list of a few ideas for your next shindig.

1. Picture Station:

Many weddings and baby showers offer funny photo stations for their guests. We provided one for the kids. They LOVED it!

This “station” cost about 8 dollars to create. The orange back drop is from Hobby Lobby and was about 6 dollars for 2 yards. The felt was about $1 a piece as were the wood sticks. Yes, I made those mustaches from felt! I had the picture frame on hand and hot glued the sunflower to the side.

2. Monster Jars:

I posted about these earlier this month but they were so cute and easy to make.

These were four dollars to make. 2 glass candlesticks from the dollar store and 2 dollar store bowls, hot glue together.

3. Easy Decorations:

Don’t break the bank. I scrounged Pinterest and found a few DIY decorations that I could do with my kids and would look really cute.

This Hanging Spiderweb was placed over the kitchen table

These Tin Can Luminaries from Jolly Mom were fun to make and use.

We also hung twinkle lights (aka white Christmas lights) across the backyard for fun lighting for nighttime playing.

4. Fun activities that are fun to play and easy to plan:

We chose a decorate your own pumpkin contest. Each person brings their own pumpkin, decorates it, and then some poor unsuspecting parent gets judge them for a winner!

Try a glow in the dark hunt. Simply place a glow stick (smaller thick ones are the best) into a balloon and blow it up. Then go hide them outside and send the kids out to find them! We used the park across the street however the picture below shows an example of a glow balloon.

This party actually proved to me that I could come up with some fun ideas and decor without spending a ton of money. Give them a shot and let the fun begin!

Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Holiday, Kid Crafts Tagged With: Crafts, Decoration, DIY, Halloween, Holiday

DIY Hanging Spiderwebs

October 15, 2012 by Morgan Leave a Comment

I seem to have a thing for messy crafts. If it requires a lot of glue and drying time I can almost be assured to try it.

This Spiderweb Balloon craft came from the Better Homes and Garden website but they did not adequately describe the amount of effort involved.

Tutorial on:

You will need:

Cotton yarn

Elmers glue

Balloons

Hot Glue

Plastic spiders

Mix the Elmers glue with equal parts water

Cut LONG sections from a skein of cotton yarn.

Dip yarn completely in the water glue mixture and pull the piece through your fingers to remove excess glue

I recommend wrapping an end of the yarn to the knot of the balloon to get you started

Wrap around the balloon

Don’t be discouraged if it takes a few attempts to get the yarn to stay in place.

I used several pieces of yarn to get the entire effect.

When you are finished wrapping make sure you have a long string to hang the balloon to ensure proper drying.

After they are completely dry hot glue the plastic spiders

Then poke a small hole in the balloon and allow it to deflate. I recommend the slow deflation because I accidently popped a balloon and it pulled the yarn a little hard.

Your web should be complete!

Discoveries: Acrylic yarn does not hold the form well. Cotton yarn is the best. Younger kids will probably get impatient wrapping the balloons because it take a little bit of maneuvering to make the initial yarn wrapping stay.

I gave each spider web a quick spray with Mod Podge spray to ensure the web stays stiff but you probably don’t need to do it.

We are really happy with our results and they will look great for upcoming Pumpkin Party!

Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Holiday Tagged With: Crafts, DIY, Halloween, Holidays

DIY Holiday Pedestal Jars

October 10, 2012 by Morgan Leave a Comment

The holidays are approaching and the need to be crafty has hit me like a mac truck. Thanks to Pinterest the ideas and inspiration are overflowing.

Here is a craft/decor idea that cost me five dollars and will be perfect for a few upcoming casual events. I found it on Pinterest from The Celebration Shoppe.

Supplies:

2 glass candles holders – $1 at the dollar store

2 glass bowls – $1 at the dollar store

Stickers of your choosing. We got ours from the Target dollar section

Hot glue the bowl to the top of the candlestick

Apply the stickers to the front of the bowl

Finished! The stickers wash off easily with warm water and a sponge.

They are now ready for candy and will be used again for a different party.

Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Kid Crafts Tagged With: Crafts, DIY, Halloween, Holidays

How to make a Muppet Wreath

October 1, 2012 by Morgan Leave a Comment

It started out as a great idea.

But now I am not so sure.

I like an aspect of the wreath but I am unsure with the final result.

Either way, here we go.

DIY Muppet Halloween Wreath*

Here is a way to spice up your decor this Halloween and if you are really talented yours will look better than mine.

Supplies:

Styrofoam wreath

Two styrofoam balls (I bought eggs and then halved them)

Craft paint

Hot glue

3 Muppet Boas

Straight Pins

Paint your eyes on the balls and allow to dry

Begin wrapping the fur around the wreath. Hot glue the end of the Boa to the underside and begin wrapping.

Hot glue random wraps to help it stay in place

After all have been wrapped

Now comes the part that I am torn on and I will probably change in the coming weeks.

I attached the eyes with straight pins. I pushed the flat end into the ball and the sharp end into the wreath. This way the eyes stay in place but can be removed easily.

Eye options

After placing the eyes in the fur my husband pointed out the obvious.

Something is missing.

So I added teeth

Hmmm…Still not sure….

The teeth are made of felt and are only held in place with a few straight pins. This will allow me to remove them quickly without destroying the fur.

I am undecided on the final product however I really do like the wreath.

Another option for this type of wreath is to use feather boas. They look fantastic however they are fairly pricey and I am pretty cheap.

I hope you give this a shot and if your result is much better than mine, which I don’t doubt it will be, feel free to send me a link!

*No muppets were harmed in the making of this wreath

Filed Under: Crafts, DIY, Kid Crafts Tagged With: Crafts, DIY, Halloween, Holidays, Kid Crafts

Serial Procrastinating Crafter

September 6, 2012 by Morgan Leave a Comment

I am a serial procrastinating crafter with hoarder like tendencies. I will find ideas on blogs, in magazines and on Pinterest that inspire me to create. I find great joy in my idealistic project day dreaming however I fear that I am Martha Stewart in my head but Fred Sanford in real life.

I know that I am probably not the only one but I do believe I am getting a little out of hand. I know this because I have recently been gifted with little clues from my five year old. Some of these gems included:

“Mom, I think your hot glue gun is in your junk closet.” (Junk closet was once the linen closet)

“Mom, I can’t find any batteries in this junk drawer. There are only hot glue sticks, crayons, paint brushes and glitter.”

“Um, Mom, are you ever going to finish re-painting this table. I can’t move my nerf gun box into the hallway with these pieces everywhere.”

My last and final hint that my crafting prowess was escalating into the hoarder zone was my conversation with my husband about empty soup cans that are currently cluttering one of my kitchen cabinets. All he did was walk away after I tried to explain that these cans were necessary for a craft. A craft to do WITH THE CHILDREN. In my mind, hoarding everyday items for crafts is ALWAYS okay as long as it is for the children.

Can you really blame me when you find crafts that look like this?

The Jolly Mom is genius!

Reusing tin cans?!

Awesome.

Or how about blogger Kelsey Bang’s craft of reusing old lightbulbs for ornaments.

I have a freakin’ million old lightbulbs now.

These crafts are cheap and time consuming. Two qualities that I hold dear when crafting with my boys. I need something that will keep them interested and occupied for a long period of time. I’m a good mom like that.

Good mom or not I am now saving these types of items all over the house. It’s getting a little crazy. Especially when the men folk can no longer politely overlook my craft “supplies.”

Whatever….I’m not going to let it get to me for too long. Halloween is just around the corner, Christmas will be here before your know it and I will use all those damn cans and lightbulbs. Just remember…… IT’S FOR THE CHILDREN!

Filed Under: Humor, Life Tagged With: Crafts, Humor, Ideas

Floating Paper Mache Balls

August 19, 2012 by Morgan 2 Comments

Occasionally I come up with crafts for the boys to do in their free time.

If it is interesting enough they don’t ask to watch TV or play video games for at least 30 minutes.

A few of these include

Splatter Painting

Melted Crayons

Make your own Creeper

This week we made paper mache art and decided to hang it.

It was supposed to look like balls but because it was made on balloons they have an egg shape.

First Step:

Get your supplies ready.

These included shredded newspaper, paper mache mix, and balloons. (Paper mache recipe: Flour and Water. Get the consistency creamy. Not too thick and no lumps)

Second:

Dip the strips into the mache mix and layer on the balloon. You do not want to see any balloon color peeking out anywhere.

Third:

Dry. Dry. Dry. Make sure the ENTIRE thing is dry.

Also – DO NOT POP THE BALLOON. If the paper mache is painted it will collapse without the balloon inside.

Fourth:

Once the balls are dry you can begin your base paint.

My boys and I did a white base coat.

Fifth:

After the base coat has dried then start the color painting.

We used simple craft paint that we had on hand.

I realize that he isn’t painting with the colors yet BUT they are in the picture…

Sixth:

DRY DRY DRY.

Once it is dry either give it a coat of Mod Podge or Spray a coat on…There is Spray Paint Modge now and I LOVE IT.

Seventh:

After the craft has dried from the paint and Mod Podge, POP THE BALLOON.

Then figure out if you want to hang your art work. We chose to hang ours and I decided to use buttons and hot glue them into the opening of the balloons.

Eighth:

Hang and admire.

I made my own yesterday because my children didn’t like my idea so I needed to quench my crafty craving.

My kids love them and my seven year old said that this was by far his favorite project that we have worked on. I just think he liked the mess.

We had a lot of fun working on these and it encouraged my children to be more artistic.

I do believe this craft probably isn’t the best for really young children.

Have fun!

Filed Under: Kid Crafts Tagged With: Crafts, Kid Crafts, Mod Podge, Painting

Jackson Pollock inspired paintings for children

July 3, 2012 by Morgan Leave a Comment

I love art. I love the history and the reasoning behind it. I have a degree in Art History and if life had happened differently my youthful dreams of working in a gallery may have become a reality. However, that is in the past and in my present reality I can try to encourage my children to have an understanding and perhaps a passion for it.

Today we created our own Jackson Pollock pieces.

The boys loved having no real direction other than create.

I told them to use the colors that they enjoyed and work in their painting.

Color combing happened quickly

And a true artist does not care about his “look” while working.

After awhile their work was finished and they are now ready to act ambivalent towards their peers. True artists in the making.

Another one crossed off the Summer bucket list.

Supplies:

Craft paint

Paintbrushes

Canvas (found at Michaels)

Mod Podge – spray – after the paint drys to prevent chipping

Filed Under: DIY, Kid Crafts, summer Tagged With: art, Crafts, Jackson Pollock, Kids, Painting, Summer Bucket List

Clothespins – Fulfilling my life one day at a time

June 8, 2012 by Morgan Leave a Comment

There are a few household items that have always held an element of fascination to me. Items that I know can be used in more ways than just the ordinary and if I can just figure out a their new purpose or dress it up differently my life would be infinitely more fulfilling…

Clothespins- Fulfilling my life one day at a time

how to make glitter clothespins

I have some strange obsession with clothespins. I have always seen them as holding so much potential in such a little package. In the past I have purchased package upon package and then store them until I could conjure up an idea to use them for other than laundry or food storage.

Finally, I gave into a simple idea I have had for years but never accomplished. Glitter clothespins. I don’t need glitter clothespins and I don’t have an amazing Pinterest project waiting on the sidelines for the finishing touches of sparkling clothespins so when making these I knew they had no true purpose.

I don’t care. I had pretty glitter and I wanted to use it….. Apparently I am four.

If you want to get in touch with your childish side these are incredibly easy to make.

HOW TO:

Simply coat each side with matte Mod Podge and then dip into fine/dust glitter. I used JoAnns generic brand because Martha’s is overpriced. After they have dried I sealed the clothes pins with a light layer of the Mod Podge in the spray can.

Now I have four clothespins eagerly awaiting a purpose. I am sure these would make great little add-ons to homemade gifts.

Now, the winner of the Post giveaway is:Leah M. (check your email)!